Solvolysis of 2-substituted-9-(otrho-substituted phenylmethyl)fluoren-9-yltrimethylammonium ions in various solvents. The effect of steric crowding on alkene formation

Abstract

The solvolytic reaction of several 9-(ortho-substituted phenylmethyl)fluoren-9-yltrimethylammonium salts has been investigated in several different solvents. Substitution and elimination products were found for the reactions in all the solvents studied, with the exceptions that reaction in both tert-butyl alcohol and chloroform led exclusively to the alkene product. The observed rate constants for alkene formation and the percent alkene were measured and it was found that the di-ortho compounds reacted at a faster rate but produced less alkene than the reaction of the corresponding mono-ortho salts. Hydrogen–deuterium isotope effects were also determined for the various reactions. The results are discussed in terms of the reaction proceeding by way of the E1 mechanism, where steric acceleration promotes the loss of the bulky ammonium leaving group to give the carbocation intermediate.